Training & Workshops

We offer issues-focussed training to private refugee sponsors that they identify as critical to their settlement of newcomers. These are free, two-hour, online workshops to address issues such as cultural impact, housing, healthcare, education, employment strategies, language training, financial planning as well as child protection, mental health issues and more.

All workshops run from 10:00 am – 12:00 noon on a Saturday with an opportunity to connect and learn through formal training followed by joining a breakout room at the conclusion of the event. To register for our events, watch for our flyers and send us an email at info@refugeesponsornet.ca.

November 9, 2024

Government Support for Newcomers

  • Identify and know how to access government tax credits of particular benefit to newcomers, e.g., the child tax credit
  • Identify and access a variety of health care programmes geared to newcomers
  • Assist newcomers to apply for social assistance programmes (e.g., Ontario Works) that may be required for ongoing financial support

February 25, 2025

Employment – to provide sponsors with practical solutions to address job-related challenges

  • Collaboration with Jumpstart Refugee Talent to address job-related challenges around literacy, lived experience, previous employment, credentialing
  • Addressing the issues: community consultation, networking
  • Focussing on job readiness: creation of meaningful employment connections, facilitation of mentorships, fostering entrepreneurship, and economic pathway

May 10, 2025

Housing – to provide sponsors with practical solutions to assist in housing searches

  • Addressing the affordable housing challenges in identifying appropriate accommodation for a newcomer family for 12 months
  • Identifying ideas such community mapping, community real estate agent assistance, assistance from municipalities
  • Negotiating leases

September 20, 2025

Settlement Crisis – to provide sponsors with tools to manage situations and protect the lives of those they sponsor

  • Addressing the implications of settlement crisis: sponsor role
  • Identifying the crises: family dysfunction, domestic violence, child welfare, injury, housing issues that may involve police
  • How to handle issues, how to get help, how to protect the sponsored family

November 8, 2025

Sustaining Sponsorship: A Changing Landscape

  • How the landscape has changed since 2016 based on research by Jennifer Hyndman, York University, barriers to repeat sponsorships, recruitment targets
  • Importance of training: RSTP – pre-arrival training and importance of a settlement plan; PRSN – post arrival training around lived experience
  • How to keep people engaged during long processing delays, motivation, best practice, recruitment and teambuilding

Lunch & Learns

Sponsors possess considerable knowledge from work and lived experience. Together, in discussion, they address issues and problems sponsor groups face in working toward best practice.  With the help of a resource person and a moderator, they get to the heart of the challenge and offer each other practical solutions in an online, one-hour discussion where they quickly gain new knowledge or confirm they are on the right track in their decision-making.

To register for a Lunch & Learn, from 12 noon – 1:00 pm, on a Wednesday, watch for our flyers and send us an email to info@refugeesponsornet.ca.

January 15, 2025

Engaging Women in Community – to provide ideas for women to socialize safely

  • Understanding the issues, cultural differences and family dynamics
  • Identifying opportunities — learning new language, meeting other women, learning Canadian customs
  • How to facilitate – creativity in cooking classes, sewing, design, knitting, art, photography, children’s programs, etc., meeting one’s neighbours

March 19, 2025

Understanding Empowerment – to provide guidelines in roles and responsibilities

  • Understanding the power differential in sponsor accompaniment
  • Understanding the sponsor role in parent-teacher meetings, medical or health care appointments
  • Understanding the sponsor role in family decision-making around purchases, and major issues

June 18, 2025

Settlement Technology – to provide information about available technology to support refugee settlement

  • Understanding new tools to help in settlement
  • Using google translate, google classroom, online banking, AI
  • Providing information on apps like the TTC planner for use in local transportation

October 15, 2025

Road to Citizenship – to provide an approach to safe conversation about the process

  • Identification of barriers and incentives
  • Opening the conversation around permanent resident to citizen
  • Accessing educational resources to assist newcomers in preparing
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